Rotary earth scraper



E. V. COLLINS ROTARY EARTH SCRAPER June 21, 1949.

2 sneaks-sheet .1

Filed Dec. 22. 1945,

June 21, 1949. E. v. COLLINS ROTARY EARTH SCRAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DeG. 22, 1945 J1? vez? for Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES 1ATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates generally to rotary earth scraper machines and in particular to a hitch device for a scraper machine adapted to provide for av unit movementy ofv the machine frame and scraper such that the scraper, while in a normal earth scraping position relative to the frame, is moved to an earth carrying position.

An object of this invention is to'provide an improved rotary scraper machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide arrotary scraper machine having a hitch member movably supported on a tongue, X'ed on the machine frame, such that'the tongue is movable relative to'thehitch member to two moved positions providing for the movement of the scraper to earth scraping'and carrying positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide .a rotary scraper machine in'which a scraper, inra normal earth scraping position, is movable,to' gether with its supporting frame,y to an earth carrying position.`

Yet a further object of this invention isv to provide a rotary scraper machine in which a hitch memberand a tongue member are assem'- bled for movement to two lrelative operating posi; tions, so that a scraper inI a fixed position relative to the tongue, is movable with the tongue to earth scraping and earth carrying positions.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a rotary scraper machine,`having a hitch device connectible with a xed tongue for the machine by a link system, including toggle links capable of releasably locking the link systemto hold a hitch member -and the tongue in a xed relative position providing for an earth scraping position of the scoop or bucket kof the machine. On a manual actuation of the toggle vlinks to release the link system, from its locked position, the bucket and tongue are movable as a unit, relative to the hitch member, to provide for the bucket being in an earth carrying position.

Further objects, features `and advantages of land 3).

vice shown in assembly relation with the tongue of thescraper nr`1ach'ine; with certain parts being broken away and shown insection to more clearly show such assembly;

Fig. 5is -a planv viewlof the hitch device and tongue assembly shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View' of the hitch and tongue assembly'shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 isa sec-tional View taken on the line 'l-'l With reference to the drawings the hitch device of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2fin assembly with a rotary scraper machine including a main framaindicated generally as I0,

Acomprised of .a pair of* angle iron side members l i, faced outwardly, an'd'having forward sections l2 EKFig; 3): arranged in .a 'parallel spaced relation adjacent .tofeach other. From their forward sections l2 the members.' Il diverge outwardly and rearwardly, and terminate in vrear straight sections I3, which; are 'connected together at their front ends b'ya transverse member it. A longitudinal member I6r has its front end positioned between' and welded to the forward sections l2 of the side members Il, while its rear end is connected with the transverse member l li. The longitudinal member I6 constitutes a Xed tongue for the scraper machine frame lll.

A, rotary sera-perror bucket, indicated generally as Il, is rotatably supported on a shaft i8 carried between the rear sections I3 -of the frame side members Vl l.v The bucket i'l is provided with a scraper blade I9 and an opening 2| for admitting the dirt, which is' scraped, into the bucket. ySpaced circumferentiallyabout the ends of the bucket l1 are stop or lug members 22, 23 and 2t, vit being understood that these lugs are in pairs arranged oppositely from each other on the bucket Il.

The stop members '22 23 andzll are selectively engageable with a transverse bumper bar or stop member 26, of a generally inverted U-shape having the free ends of its legs pivoted at 21 to the rear "sections 'I3' of the side members Il (Figs. Extended across the front side of the stop bar 25 in an=anglemember 30 provided with an upright memberI 28,the upper end of which is pivotallyconnected atI 29 tothe upper end 0i a rearwardly and upwardly extended pivoted link 3|', the lower'end of-which link is pivoted at 32 to 'a projection 33" on the under side of a pivoted arm 34'. Brac-emembers 3-5 lare connected between'the-upper end of' the-upright member 28 and the opposite ends ofthe angle member 30.

The lever arm- 34- is extended in a generally upward and rearward direction and has a lower end of a biiurcated construction arranged in a straddled relation with the longitudinal member I6 and pivotally supported at 36 on the member I6. Connected to the upper end of the lever arm 34 is a rope or cable 31 which is extended forwardly to a position adjacent the operators seat (not shown) of a tractor unit indicated generally as 33. rIhe bar 26 is yieldably retained in a position for engaging the stop members 22, 23 and 24 by means of a tension spring 39 connected between the lower end of the lever arm 34 and an upright projection 4I on the transverse connecting member I4.

When the stop members 22, are engaged with the stop bar 26, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the scraper blade i9 of the bucket I1 is in an earth scraping position. On a forward movement of the lever arm 34, or towards the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the bar 26 is moved out of engagement with the stop members 22. On release of the lever arm 34, and a return of the stopper bar 26, by the spring 36, to a lug engaging position the lugs 23 are engaged with the stop bar 26 to provide for a dirt spreading position for the bucket I'I. In other words, the opening 2l is not fully open to the ground surface. On a second release and return of the bar 26, by manipulation of the lever arm 34, the lugs 24 are engaged with the stop bar 26, to provide for a dumping position of the bucket I7, at which all of the bucket opening 2l is open to the ground surface.

In the use of the rotary scraper machine dirt is often scraped at one location and then carried to a second location remotely located from the dirt pickup location. Since the bucket I1 rides directly on the ground surface it is necessary that the bucket I'I, in a load carrying position, have its scraper blade I9 spaced above the ground surface sc that the rear end of the bucket bottom side 42 is in riding engagement with the ground surface as illustrated in Fig. 2. This load carrying position of the bucket I1 is accomplished by the hitch device of this invention, which will now be described.

The hitch device (Figs. 4, and 6) is comprised of a hitch member, designated generally as 43', which is of a flat form and of a generally L-shape. The short leg or front portion 44 of the hitch member is arranged in an upright and guided position between the front ends of the forward sections I2 of the frame side members II. The front end 46 of the longitudinal tongue member I6 terminates short of the front ends of the forward sections I 2 a distance suincient to accommodate the reception therebetween of the front upright portion 44. The long leg or rear portion 41 of the hitch member 43 is arranged longitudinally of the tongue I6 and extends in a rearward direction at a position generally above the longitudinal member I6.

The hitch member 43 is movably connected with the tongue IS by a link system comprising a pair of front links 48 (Figs. 5 and 6) arranged at opposite sides of the hitch member 43. The links 48 are inclined upwardly and forwardly and have their upper ends pivoted on a pin 49 carried in the rear portion 4l of the hitch member 43. rEhe lower ends of the links 48 are pivoted on a pin 5I extended through the tongue I6 and through the upright legs 52 of the forward sections I2. Spacer collars 53 are mounted on the pivot 49 to opposite sides of the hitch member 43 to maintain the links 48 in parallel planes.

A pair of rear links 54 (Figs. 5 and 6) are also arranged at opposite sides of the hitch member 43 and are inclined upwardly and rearwardly, with their upper ends being pivoted on a pin 56 carried adjacent the rear end of the hitch member portion 43. The lower ends of the links 54 are pivoted on a pin 5'! carried in the tongue member I6. It is seen, therefore, that the pivot pins 5| and 51 are spaced apart a distance which is less than the distance between the pivot pins 49 and 56 in the hitch member 43.

A pair of toggle links (Figs. 4 and 6) have one of their ends pivotally connected together by a pin 6I, with the opposite end 62 of the toggle link 59 being pivotally supported on the pin 5t, while the opposite end 63 of the toggle link 58 is pivotally supported on the pin 5I. A lever arm 64 for actuating the toggle links 58 and 59 has one end 66 secured to the upper end of the toggle link 58 such that the lever arm is inclined upwardly and rearwardly parallel with the toggle link 58. The upper end of the lever arm 64 is connected with a rope or cable 67 which extends forwardly to a position adjacent the operators seat on the tractor 38.

In one embodiment of the invention the links 49 and 54 are seven inches in length between their pivots 49 and 5I and 56 and 5l, respectively, while the toggle links 58 and 59 have a length of eight inches between the pivots 5I, 6I and 56. The pivots 49 and 56, in this embodiment, are spaced sixteen inches apart, while the pivots 5I and 5'! are spaced ten inches apart.

The front edge of the upright portion 44 of the hitch member 43 is provided with a series of openings 'II for selectively receiving a clevis I2 which is carried on a drawbar 'I3 of the tractor 38. Pivotally supported from the lower end of the upright portion 44 is a sled member I4 for a purpose which appears later.

In the operation of the hitch device its connecting link system with the tongue member I6 is locked against movement by the positioning of the toggle links 58 and 59 in their longitudinally aligned positions illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the hitch member 43 and the tongue member I 6 are in fixed relative positions. In this fixed relative position the scraper blade I9 of the bucket I1 is adapted to be in an earth scraping position when the stop lugs 22 are in engagement with the stop bar 26.

On the application of a pulling force, by the tractor 38, on the hitch member 43, a force in a forward direction is applied on the upper ends of the links 48 and 54 tending to rotate these links in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. In order to prevent such counter-clockwise movement of the links 48 and 54, and a consequent movement of the toggle links 58 and 59 in a downward direction out of their relatively longitudinally aligned positions, the lever arm 64 (Fig. '7) is provided adjacent its lower end with a stop member 15 adapted for abutting engagement with the toggle link 59, when the toggle links are in their longitudinally aligned positions.

To provide for the movement of the bucket I1 from an earth scraping position to an earth carrying position it is only necessary to pull forwardly on the lever arm 64 whereby the toggle links 58 and 59 are released for pivotal movement upwardly out of their longitudinally aligned positions. On a release of the toggle links 58 and 59 the links 48 and 54 are movable to their positions illustrated in Fig. 2. The movement of the links 48 and 54, from their positions shown in Fig. 1

to--their positionsshown in Fig. 2, provides-forv a relative movement between the tongue I6 and the hitch member i3 to their relative positions shown in Fig. 2.

In .theuse of the hitch of this invention ithas been found that the hitch member 43, on release of the togglelnks et and 59, pivotally moves a small. amount in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and. 2, about its pivotal connection. with the clevis 72, whilev the tongue I6 is tipped upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, from its position shownin Fig. l. In other words, the tongue II pivots in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, about the pivotal support I8 for the frame side members Il. Since the stops 22, on actuation or" the lever 6d to release the toggle links 58 and 59, remain engaged with the stop bar 26, the bucket I l', on upward tilting of the tongue IG, is moved as a. unit with the frame I whereby the scraper blade I9 is elevated about the ground surface to its position shown in Fig. 2.

During the release of the toggle links and 59,- from their aligned locking position shown in Fig. l, to their broken position shown in Fig. 2, it isonly necessary to apply a manual pressure on the lever arm 54 until the toggle links 58 and 59 are in substantially their relative positions shown in Figs. 4, and 6. The continued movement .of the'toggle links 5E and 59 is accomplished by virtue of the pulling action applied on the hitch member i3 by the tractor 38. The release of the toggle links is thus a semi-automatic action.

AOn carrying of the load to a desired dumping position, the lever arm 3ft is operated in a usual manner to selectively engage the stops 23 and 24 with the stop bar 25 to accomplish either a spreading or a complete dumping of the dirt from the bucket Il. In practice it has been found that onrelease of the bar 26 from an engaged position with the stops 2d, and rotation of the bucket I'I to engage the stops 22 with the stop bar 25, the impact of the stops 22 against the bar 2t is sufficient to automatically return the toggle links 58 and 59 to their locking positions shown in Fig. 1. As a result the relative movements of the` hitch member @It and the tongue i5 to their positions shown in Fig. 1, providing for a scraping action of the bucket il, takes place automatically by virtue of the impact force of the stops 22 against the bar 26 resulting from the rotational movement of the bucket I'I through an angular distan-ce corresponding to the angular distance between the sto-ps 2li and 22, when the bucket Il is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. This impact force is generally sufcient to pivotally move the frame I0 in a clockwise direction, as also viewed in Fig. 1, until the toggle links 5t and 59 are in their longitudinally aligned locking positions.

Oftentimes, in the use of a scraper machine, it is necessary to ll a hole or a ditch through which it is impossible to drive the tractor 38. To ll a hole or a ditch, under these conditions, a chain (not shown) is substituted for the clevis 12, whereby the forward end oi the frame Ill is supported through the hitch member 43 on the sled member li. The chain is suitably connected with one of the openings 'IE in the hitch member i3 and the stops 22 are adjustable relative to the bucket I'I by the provision of a series of openings 'I6 adapted to receive the bolts 'il for securing the stops 22 to the bucket Il. The adjustment of the stops 22 on the bucket Il and the connection of the chain in a selected one of the openings 'II are relatively made to provide for the bucket I1 hitchfdevice is in its lockedv position shown in Fig. l;y Y

By virtue of ythe chain connection between the tractor-andthe scraper machine, the tractor can bedriven-around-the Aedge of the ditch or hole tobe filled, to-apositionat Vwhich the scraping machine can be pulled across the hole orthe ditch. In transporting-the load froma dirt pick-up position to va dir-t Adumping position, the hitch device, witha chain connection between the scraper machine-and the tractor, is operated in all respects similar to its operation as described in connection withl Figs. l-and 2.

From a consideration of the above description itis -seen that the invention provides a hitch device forva rotary` scraper -machine which is of a compact. .and rugged construction, and movably assembled with-a-xed tongue Aiii on the machine frame y I0- to provide for a movement of the bucket il lfrom an earth scraping-position to an earthor loadcarrying position, while the bucket Il yisretained in anormal earth scraping position relative to the machine frame I0.' The initial actuation of -the hitch device, to provide for the .movement of the bucket from an earth scrapingy position to a load-carrying position, is accomplished .manually with its actuation finally being accomplished by the pulling action of the tractor o-n the hitch member t3.A Since the hitching deviceis automatically returned -to a position providing fora scrapingposition of the bucket I1 thecomplete operation of the device requires a minimumof manual effort and attention.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not tobeso limited since changes and modifications can-be .made therein which are within the full intended scope lof this invention as dened by the appended claims,-

I claim: l

1. In a rotary-scraper machine having a main frame including atongue, and a bucket rotatably carried adjacent the rear end of the frame, a hitch member having a forward portion adapted for connection witlra tractor unit, and a rear portionextendedin a spaced relation longitudinallyof the tongue, means movably supporting said hitch member onsaid tongue including an upwardlyand forwardly inclined first link, and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined second link, means pivotally connecting said first and second links with said ton-gue and with the rear portion of said hitch member, a pair of toggle links pivotally connected together at one of their ends, with the opposite end of one of said toggle links being pivoted on the pivot for the lower end of said first link, and the opposite end of the other one of said toggle links being pivoted on the pivot for the upper end of said second link, said toggle links, at one moved position of said i'lrst and second links being in substantial longitudinal alignment to releasably lock said first and second links in said one moved position, and manually actuated means for moving said toggle links out of longitudinal alignment to release said first and second links for movement to a second position.

2. In a rotary scraper machine comprising a main frame having a tongue fixed at one end, and a scraper bucket rotatably supported at its other end, means for holding the bucket in a scraping position, means providing for the movement of the bucket from said scraping to a load carrying position, when the bucket is held in a scraping position including a hitch member having a forward portion adapted for connection with a tractor unit, and a rear portion extended in a spaced relation substantially longitudinally of said tongue, a pair of reversely inclined pivoted links connecting said hitch member and said tongue, a toggle means for releasably locking said links in a, first position against pivotal movement, when the bucket is in said scraping position, said togg-le means including a first member pivotally connected with the hitch, and a second member pivotally connected with the tongue, and means for actuating said toggle means to provide for the movement of said links to a second position, with said bucket being movable to an earth carrying position in response to the movement of said links from said iirst position to said second position.

3. In a rotary scraper machine comprising a frame having a fixed tongue member, a bucket rotatably supported on said frame, coacting means on said bucket and on said frame for releasably locking the bucket in an earth scraping position, means providing for the movement of said frame, when the bucket is in said earth scraping position, to a position at which the bucket is in an earth carrying position including a hitch member having a front portion adapted for connection with a tractor unit, and a rear portion extended in a spaced relation longitudinally of said tongue, a pair of reversely inclined upwardly extended pivoted links pivotally connected between said tongue and said rear portion, toggle links for releasably locking said pair of links against pivotal movement, in a first moved position therefor, to hold said hitch member and tongue against relative movement at a position corresponding to the scraping position for said bucket, and means for moving said toggle links to release said pair of links for movement to a second moved position therefor, whereby said hitch member and tongue are relatively movable to positions providing for the movement of the bucket to an earth carrying position.

e. In a rotary scraper machine having a frame with a fixed tong-ue at one end and a bucket rotatably supported adjacent its other end, coacting means on said frame and said bucket adapted to releasably hold the bucket in an earth scraping position, means providing for the movement of said frame, when the bucket is in said earth scraping position, to a position at which the bucket is in an earth carrying position including a hitch member having a portion, at the forward end of said tongue, adapted to be connected with a tractor unit, and a rear portion extended longitudinally of said tongue, a pair of upwardly extended reversely inclined links pivotally connected between said rear portion and said tongue and spaced longitudinally of said tongue, toggle links for locking said pair of links against pivotal movement in one position corresponding to a :first position of said tongue relative to said hitch member at which said bucket is in said scrapingI position, and manual means for actuating said toggle links to release said pair of links for movement to another position therefor to provide for a relative movement between said tongue and hitch member to positions at which the bucket is in an earth carrying position.

5. In a rotary earth scraper machine including a frame having a xed tongue at one end, and

a rotatable scraper adjacent its opposite end, a yf hitch member having a front portion adapted for f' connection with a tractor unit, and a rear portion extended longitudinally of said tongue, a front upwardly and forwardly inclined link pivoted between said tongue and rear portion, a rear upwardly and rearwardly extended link pivoted between said tongue and rear portion, a pair of toggle links pivoted together at one of their ends, with the opposite end of one of said toggle links being pivoted on the pivot for the lower end of said front link, and the opposite end of the other of said toggle links being pivoted on the pivot for the upper end of said rear link, means for releasably locking said toggle links in substantially longitudinally aligned positions to provide for a first position of said tongue relative to said hitch member, and means for releasing said locking means to provide for the movement of said tongue into a second position relative to said hitch member.

EDGAR V. COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,862,903 Olinger June 14, 1932 2,020,555 Kerber Nov. l2. 1935 

